CUPS Client Story: A choice to live

Donovan has experienced a lot in his 44 years. He’s spent time in gangs, his parents went to residential schools, he’s struggled with alcoholism and substance use and lived on the streets for a decade. Both of his parents have passed and he’s lost many friends along the way.

It was two years and eight months ago that Donovan hit a breaking point. His liver was enlarged and infected to a catastrophic point. “They told me I needed to either quit drinking or die, so I said I’m going to quit drinking.”

Support from the CUPS Liver Clinic

Donovan was at CUPS recently to participate in the CUPS Love Your Liver Clinic this month, an event specifically designed to make it easy for people to get their treatment process started — or continue where they left off. 

With liver disease, Donovan requires regular blood work and coming into the CUPS for this type of support is part of his regular routine. But with the integrated care approach at CUPS, he’s also found support beyond the health clinic. At one point he didn’t have enough money for groceries before his next paycheck, so when he was at CUPS for blood work and routine vaccines, he was given a gift card to help with buying some food. 

Improved treatment options for hepatitis C

Liver disease, such as hepatitis C and cirrhosis, is one area the CUPS Liver Clinic provides support for. The clinic provides screening and testing, consultation with a nurse and infectious disease specialist, monitoring and treatment, vaccination and education. 

Dr. Gisela Macphail is the Infectious Disease specialist with the CUPS Liver Clinic and has been involved in the program for more than 20 years. One of the biggest changes she’s witnessed is the treatment of hepatitis C. 

“When we first started, we offered a treatment with a 32 per cent chance of working. Now, the new anti-viral treatment has a 95 to 98 per cent chance of a cure with minimal side effects.”

Macphail says an estimated 13 per cent of CUPS clients have been exposed to hepatitis C, whether they realize it or not. Testing and access to care is important to avoid long-term liver consequences.

New priorities

For Donovan, his focus is on his 15-year old son. “He comes first; I would do anything for him.”

And while his son comes first, Donovan is also working to give back to his community and help others who are struggling like he was. He tells people his story and he knows where they are and the challenges they are facing. But he also knows he changed his life and they can too. 

“I’ve lost a lot of people but I’m still here and fighting.”